Whitmire claims opponent does not live in district

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said Tuesday it is “common knowledge in political circles” that one of his primary opponents, lawyer Damian LaCroix, does not live in the district he is seeking to represent.

“Most nights his wife and two kids live in Bellaire,” Whitmire said, when asked about LaCroix’s residency. He noted that LaCroix’s mother, Faye, in 2010 listed the address of a property on Maxie Street her son now owns when she contributed to his campaign for Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2.

“It’s unfortunate. It’s fraud,” said Whitmire, who has served in the state senate since 1983. He compared the residency issue to those of newly-elected Houston Community College trustee Dave Wilson.

Calling the claim a “sideshow” to more pressing issues, LaCroix said there is no evidence to suggest he and his family do not live on Maxie Street and that Whitmire is making the claim because “he understands that the voters are supporting my candidacy” to represent Senate District 15, a majority-minority district.

LaCroix owns the property on Maxie Street with his wife, Laura, according to Harris County Appraisal District records, although only since the 2013 tax year. The address also is listed on his driver’s license. LaCroix’s name does not show up in a search of the tax office’s voter registration database, but he says that is because he opted to keep it private.*

LaCroix claimed that Whitmire, who has chaired the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for 20 years, has made money off “putting people in prison,” noting that the senator’s latest campaign finance report shows he had nearly $7 million in cash on hand.

“It affects African Americans and Hispanics disproportionately,” LaCroix said, adding that prison closures in recent years were the result of budget shortfalls, not Whitmire’s efforts. “It’s time for him to go.”

LaCroix’s latest campaign finance report shows he had no cash on hand and had raised $16,329.

*An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly stated that LaCroix is not registered to vote in Harris County